Former San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh says he doesn’t respect the protest of his former quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“I acknowledge his right to do that, but I don’t respect the motivation or the action,” Mr. Harbaugh, who is entering his second season as head football coach at the University of Michigan, told the media Monday.
Mr. Kaepernick has remained seated during the national anthem at all three of the 49ers’ preseason games in a protest against police brutality in the black community. The embattled quarterback said he plans to continue the protest before every football game.
“To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” Mr. Kaepernick told reporters after a preseason game Friday. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
Mr. Harbaugh has previously been outspoken about his patriotism.
After Muslim students raised concerns about a scheduled campus screening of “American Sniper,” which recounts the life of decorated Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the University of Michigan canceled the showing.
But Mr. Harbaugh said the football team would still watch it.
“Michigan Football will watch ’American Sniper’!” he said in a tweet. “Proud of Chris Kyle & Proud to be an American & if that offends anybody then so be it!”
• Bradford Richardson can be reached at brichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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